Xinhua quoted Beijing Tourism Bureau vice director Xiong Yumei as saying that all non-designated restaurants should also suggest other non-canine dishes to their guests. Perhaps some “chicken without sexual life”?

At least one animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is saying that the ban is a step in the right direction. The group has been documenting what it calls China’s ongoing “dog slaughter” on its Web site.

“It’s a step,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk told Rings. “One hopes it will continue after the Olympics and not just be for show during this limited time. It’s not only that it’s a cultural difference, but this is the land where Buddhism prevailed for so long and actually perfected vegetarian foods so China is perfectly set up to get rid of dog meat forever,” she said.

“There are currently no laws in China to protect animals,” Newkirk added. “All have seen some horror. The Olympics are a perfect time to start real, lasting protection for all the animals.”

besides the squeamishness of the western palate, what is the ethical argument against eating dog, versus all other types of farm raised animals/livestock? Is PETA’s concern that dogs aren’t treated humanely before they are processed into edible meat? If so, would they be ok with a large agro-industrial operation like we have in the States, where vast quantities of livestock are constantly slaughtered for our delectation? I also don’t understand what Buddhism has to do with the argument. Clearly not everyone in China is Buddhist and prescribes to its dietary regiment, and I can imagine that there are many Buddhists in China actually like consuming dog meat.

[NYT ed.: PETA is generally against eating all animals although for practical purposes it insists only on humane treatment of animals destined for slaughter, dog eat dog. The organization is especially opposed to large agro-industrial operations. In the case of the slaughter of dogs in China, it is focusing on that issue because it knows the overwhelming majority of meat-eaters in the West would object to eating dogs, and that, the organization believes, would cause them to call into question their consumption of other animals.]

ah, get a grip people. in some countrys “rocky mountian oysters” are considered yummy.
visiting a country is to “taste” the country.
we go to France, we taste.
we go to Spain, we taste.
the dog in Asia is raised like cattle in America. on ranches. so, stop eating beef?
we are not eating poodles or little fifi dogs.
, , , and it is a bit like Viagra?

the comparisons to agricultural animals are misplaced. humans developed dogs to be our companions, to trust us and to love us. to slaughter them and eat them is barbarian.

if you do not know the difference between animals that were originally developed to be agricultural and those that were originally developed to be human companions, then you will not understand the problem here. it should be very obvious.

If we eat chickens and etc. etc. why not eat dogs, horses, cats?? Humanely raised and killed should be the only concern of extremists such as PETA. Tell PETA to find some more serious problems to fret about.

It just occurred to me that PETA is group of cultural bigots. By using Western public opinion to force a ban on the accepted practice of eating dog, PETA is essentially stating that Western culture is better than Eastern culture. If members of PETA won’t eat dog (or any animal for that matter), fine; it’s their right. But don’t take that right from anyone else.

It’s not China’s cuisine that is “sad and pathetic,” Jane, it’s your bigotry. Have you ever been here? I relocated to Shanghai from the US, and the authentic Chinese cuisine – light years removed from General Gau’s Chicken and chop suey – is the most varied and delicious I have ever known. In addition to Shanghai’s justly famous crabs, I’ve gotten to know and enjoy eel, bullfrog, tripe, testicles, an enormous array of tofu-based dishes – and dog. And so what? If you’re not vegetarian then keep your hypocrisy to yourself.

I used to take my 4 kids for dinner several times a month to a Chinese restaurant in Oneonta, NY in the 1970’s. It was run by one man, a Chinese immigrant who could hardly speak English. We often ordered pork fried rice, as it was very good. One night the place was raided and the police found a number of abused dogs in the attic, which the owner used regularly for meat in his dinners. The five of us have never recovered from this experience. It also made us very aware that eating meat of any kind was an abomination.